TAMPA, Fla. (Nov. 26, 2024) - Georgian Court Women's Basketball played their first of three games in the state of Florida Tuesday night. Against perennial Southern power, Tampa, the Lions saw the Spartans pull away in the second quarter of the 77-47 GCU loss. Georgian Court falls to 0-4 on the season and has two games left in Florida after the Thanksgiving holiday. 

How it Happened
• Tampa shot better than 50% for the game hitting 31-59 from the floor. GCU was 17-49 for 35% overall.
• The Spartans were also better from long range hitting 33% going 6-18 while the Lions were at 20% knocking down 4-20.
• Georgian Court cut down a bit on their turnovers, losing the ball 15 times to the Spartans 13.
• Total rebounds saw the Spartans with a 37-21 advantage, and an 8-2 edge on the offensive glass.
1st Quarter
• Julia Whesper hit the first shot of the game, a three-pointer for an early Lion lead.
• Tyra Lovelock made it 2-2 from downtown with another three and GCU was up 6-4 three minutes in.
• Three of the Lions four three-pointers came in the first. Maria Stanescu made the third, after an 8-0 Tampa run to get GCU back within three, 12-9.
• The Spartans used another 7-1 run to get ahead 19-10, but Niyell McCargo's jumper at the buzzer cut the lead down to 19-12 after 10 minutes of play.
2nd Quarter
• The teams traded baskets to start the second, but unfortunately for GCU, Tampa's came from behind the arc while the Lions were inside it so the Spartans were still able to extend their lead.
• Tampa went 3-3 from downtown in the first two minutes of the second, getting ahead by double-digits, 28-16.
• The rest of the quarter saw the Spartans extend their lead as GCU was never able to get it back into single-digits.
• The Lions had another chance at a buzzer beater in the closing seconds, but couldn't connect this time around and trailed 39-22 at the half.
3rd Quarter
• Georgian Court had their best offensive quarter in the third.
• They scored 15 points on 6-12 shooting.
• The Spartans still had a big lead, but GCU went on a 9-5 run late in the frame getting some positive momentum.
• Tampa hit another three in the final seconds of the quarter and led 58-21 going into the fourth.
4th Quarter
• Tampa started the fourth scoring the first seven points.
• A three-point play from Whesper with 3:53 left to play was the final bit of scoring for the Lions.
• The Spartans continued to add on finishing the game on a 6-0 run for a 77-47 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Julia Whesper led the team with nine points on 3-6 shooting with three assists and zero turnovers.
• Karissa Smedley was also 3-6 from the floor and scored eight with three rebounds.
• Tyra Lovelock scored five with a team-best four boards.
• Destiny Wallace was 3-6 as well and added seven points off the bench.

For the Spartans
• Zoe Pillar scored 19 on 8-13 shooting with five rebounds.
• Olivia Davis added 16 points going 4-6 from three and 4-4 at the line.
• Marissa McDonald scored 10 with five rebounds and four assists.
• Vivianne Jende was 6-7 off the bench for 12 points.

News and Notes
• This was the first ever match between the Lions and the Spartans.
• Niyell McCargo scored her 200th career point.
• Karissa Smedley surpassed 500 career minutes.
• The Lions set season-bests shooting 35% and making four three-pointers.
• GCU's 15 turnovers were also a new season-low.

Up Next
• Georgian Court will stay in the Sunshine State. They have two games coming up after Thanksgiving starting with Palm Beach Atlantic Friday, Nov. 29 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at 12 pm.